The best light to work with?

[Deanorth]

Good day everyone

Now that I have ordered my paint box, I would like to find the best way to work at my desk.
I know our holy grail is Day Light lamp, but, I've read more and more that LED based lamp are really great.

based from your experience, is this the best way to go now, white light led based lamp?

Deanorth

 

[Ritual]

I've never tried working under a LED light, so I can't tell if it's better or not than a daylight bulb. I use a daylight bulb at the moment and I like that. I used to use halogen lights before, and that worked pretty well too, although the lamps got very hot.

 

[cheelfy]

I've got a Day Light lamp and it is so good. I've never tried a LED lamp but one of my friends says i'ts good. Maybe try the two in a shop and compare.

 

[RuneBrush]

I use an 11w Daylight Energy Saving bulb for some of my painting - I believe that its a 4300K one rather than the burn your retina 6500K version.

pete

 

[generulpoleaxe]

day light bulbs are the best as they do not tire your eyes out as much as other lighting (even the LED lighting)
i use a twin tube monster which also doubles up as my photography lamp as i don't have space to set up the other lights.

 

[Deanorth]

Thanks a lot.
The main problem here, as I live in a tropical area, is to find a light that do not heat up.
I'll try to test with a 11w day light bulb 4300k.
led light are around 150€, that's quite a lot...

 

[uberdark]

i use both types at the same time and they seem to work pretty well for me.

 

[Einion]

I know our holy grail is Day Light lamp...

Not necessarily. There is a school of thought that the best light to paint under is an equivalent of the light that the figures are intended to be viewed under.

but, I've read more and more that LED based lamp are really great.

Was this in relation to painting?

LEDs are very cost-effective in terms of power draw but often they're not a great light to paint under because of their spectrum. They vary a lot however, some are much better.

The main problem here, as I live in a tropical area, is to find a light that do not heat up.

CFLs not available there? Good ones generate a fraction of the heat of an incandescent bulb.

led light are around 150€, that's quite a lot...

Just for a bulb?

4300K is too cool by some standards by the way; see if you can compare to 5000K before you buy.

Einion

 

[supervike]

I have one of the expensive OTT lites....Puts off a very clean pure light, but just not bright enough.

I've got to find a better system for lighting as well....

 

[cleen X]

I use two OTT Lite lamps and are very happy with them. Another tip is to paint the room you paint in white and have white furnitures Big windows also help a lot if there is light outside of course!

 

[Einion]

I have one of the expensive OTT lites....Puts off a very clean pure light, but just not bright enough.

Use more than one? I know it begins to get pricey if you're talking about the whole light but their bulbs/tubes are available separately.

Einion

 

[DrEvilmonki]

I use aquarium lights - they have true daylight spectrum (have to get the right ones as they have a variety of different ones for different uses).

 

[BPI]

QUOTE Einion: "Not necessarily. There is a school of thought that the best light to paint under is an equivalent of the light that the figures are intended to be viewed under."

That's interesting Einion, is it a competition approach for the glare of exhibition centre lamps or more for people with a gaming room in the basement whose army will never see the light of day?

I think for me the daylight lamp wins (until I get a room to paint in that receives some direct sunlight). Minis painted under the living room lightbulb & then viewed next morning in daylight are always a disappointment whereas minis painted under "daylight" look fine in the evening with the curtains drawn. That'll do me

Cheers, B.

 

[Trevor]

I've painted under a fluorescent light because the competition was judged under the same.

I use a daylight lamp now.

 

[dark shaman]

Best Light

ive got an actulite exspensive but worth every penny, the new design light's called the Helex, its by far the best light ive ever used, better than a day light bulb! they get very hot!!! the actulite is a polarised light sourse its not hipe beleive me! ive used all sorts over the years and this really is the Dogs B-----ks! btw i dont work for Them

 

[Einion]

That's interesting Einion, is it a competition approach for the glare of exhibition centre lamps or more for people with a gaming room in the basement whose army will never see the light of day?

Mostly the former I'd say.

I think for me the daylight lamp wins (until I get a room to paint in that receives some direct sunlight). Minis painted under the living room lightbulb & then viewed next morning in daylight are always a disappointment...

FWIW that's very common

Another line of thinking (which is basically what using daylight bulbs seeks to do) is to paint under light that's "better" than the miniature will generally be viewed under. Problem is better can mean just brighter, higher CRI or the right temperature (maybe even all three) depending on the person. The ideal solution would seem simple, to use a daylight bulb, but even these vary a surprising amount - temps from the 3,000s are seen, when 5000K is more typical and the CRI can be in the 80s when ideally it's should be above 90 (or even 95, depending on which source you believe).

Einion

 

[Radio]

I have one of the expensive OTT lites....Puts off a very clean pure light, but just not bright enough.

I've got to find a better system for lighting as well....

I would agree that one OTT light is not really bright enough. I always supplemented it with another daylight bulb/mag lens combo. Then I got lucky and got a larger OTT lamp, so I had two. It worked great, but yes, they are cadillac lights with prices to match.
But one day I was rummaging through Micheal's 75% clearance bin and I found two OTT lights! Both boxes were damaged and opened, so I had me a good look. I figured for the discount price with 75% off, at worst I would get a replacement bulb and at best, a new light! I don't know why they returned that particular lamp, works very well! BTW, the other lamp was visibly broken. Total cost for OTT light #3 in discount bin... $5.
It works quite well. With 3 OTT lamps on my desk, I got pure light, bright enough with very little shadow.

 

[TomxJ]

heya,
I'm also looking to get myself a daylight lamp. Can anyone recommend a site or store to obtain one in the UK?

Cheers

tj -x-

 

[Deanorth]

at least, from where I am, I ave found a very good site that offer all ranges of bulb, from led to energy efficience.l l
I'll order some Vita Lite bulb,full daylight spectrum.
They are 17€ VTA out for me.
/they even have all the led range, but I'm hesitating. it's a french site, but maybe if you search for "vita lite" you'll end up on a UK site.
they seems nice bulb, but I have no direct experience so far

 

[Einion]

I'm also looking to get myself a daylight lamp. Can anyone recommend a site or store to obtain one in the UK?

http://uk.daylightcompany.com/home/

Google provides

Einion